Though coughing is a healthy reflex that helps clear the airways, it can be an irritating or even debilitating nuisance. Whether you're at home, at work, or just trying to sleep it can be painful and, at times, embarrassing. Depending on your type of cough, there are numerous steps to take to ease the pain of a raw throat. You can try home remedies for short-term coughs, but if it just won't go away, you might need to see a doctor.

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Steps

Method 1 of 4: The Annoying, Short-Term Cough

1

Stay hydrated. Lovingly called postnasal drip, the stuff that comes out of your nose and trickles down your throat, ultimately irritating it, can be helped by drinking water. This thins out the mucus, making it more manageable for your throat.[1]

Unfortunately, this doesn't mean eggnog. Water, as always, is best. Stay away from carbonated drinks and juices with high acidity levels--they may irritate your throat even more.

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2

Keep your throat healthy. Though taking care of your throat doesn't necessarily mean taking care of your cough (that's often a symptom in itself), it will help you feel and sleep better.

Try lozenges or cough drops. They numb the back of the throat, decreasing the cough reflex[1].

Drinking warm tea with honey helps soothe the throat in a similar manner. Make sure it's not too hot though!

1/2 tsp of ground ginger or apple cider vinegar with 1/2 tsp of honey is not an uncommon tactic, but it is medically unsupported.

3

Utilize the air. Create an environment that goes easy on your throat. If you change your environment, your symptoms may lessen.

Take steamy showers. They can loosen the secretions in your nose, making it easier to breathe.

Invest in a humidifier. Putting moisture back in the air if it's dry can help ease the pain.

Remove irritants. Perfumes and scented deodorizing sprays are harmless on the outside, but some people are sensitive to them and can develop sinus irritation from the exposure.

Of course, smoke is the ultimate culprit. If you are around someone who smokes, remove yourself. If you smoke, your cough is probably chronic and above being deemed just a nuisance.

4

Take medicine. If nothing else is working, medicine it is. Your best bet is to consult a doctor; there are a number of different medications to discern between.

Consider decongestants. They work their miracles by lessening the amount of mucus your sinuses produce and shrinking your swollen nasal tissues. When it comes to the lungs, they dry up the mucus already present and open up the airway passages. You can find them in pills, liquids and sprays. But if you have hypertension, be careful: They can raise blood pressure. And if you go overboard with them, they can make everything too dry, giving you a dry cough. [1]

Consider cough suppressants. If you can barely get a wink of shut eye because your chest hurts so bad, you may want to go for cough suppressants like Delsym, DexAlone, and Vicks Formula 44. Use them only at night though.[1]

Consider expectorants. If your cough is thick with phlegm, it helps to take a cough expectorant such as guaifenesin--found in Humibid, Mucinex, Robitussin Chest Congestion, and Tussin. These thin out the mucus and the pretty part is you'll be able to cough it up.[1]

Do not give over-the-counter drugs to children under the age of 4, says the FDA. They can cause serious side effects.

5

Talk to your doctor. A simple cough may not warrant a visit to a healthcare professional, but if it lingers or is the side effect of a bigger problem, it's best to consult someone who can properly diagnose you.

Regardless of the duration of your cough, if you are coughing up blood, experiencing chills or fatigue, see your doctor immediately. They will be able to determine the cause of your cough--asthma, allergies, the flu, etc.

Method 2 of 4: The Severe, Lingering Cough

1

See a doctor. If your cough has lasted longer than a month, your subacute cough may be turning into a chronic cough.[2]

You may have a sinus infection, asthma, or gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD). Knowing the cause of your cough is the first step to treating it.

You're doctor may put you on an antibiotic if you have a sinus infection. He or she may also suggest a nasal spray.

If you have allergies, you'll obviously be told to avoid those allergens as much as possible. You cough could diminish easily if this is the case.

If you have asthma, avoid conditions that make it flare up. Take your asthma medications regularly and avoid all irritants and allergens.

When acid from your stomach gets into your throat, that's GERD. There are medications your doctor can prescribe for you to relieve your pain. Apart from that, wait 3 or 4 hours after you eat before you go to bed and sleep with your head adequately elevated to lessen your symptoms.[2]

2

Quit smoking. There are many programs and resources out there to help you kick the habit and your doctor can help. He/She can refer you to a program or expose you to new, effective methods.

If you are around second-hand smoke, know that that could be an explanation for your cough. Remove yourself as often as possible.

3

Take medication. Coughs are generally a symptom -- therefore, cough medications are only taken when the actual problem isn't known. If you have a chronic cough, though, that's a slightly different story. Only take medications if your doctor okays it. Here are your options:

Antitussives are prescription cough suppressants. These are generally the last thing to be recommended and only are so when nothing else works. OTC cough suppressants aren't backed up by science, for the record.

Method 3 of 4: For Children

Avoid certain medications. The FDA states that most OTC medications can cause side effects in children under the age of 4. Keep this in mind when treating your child's cough.

Cough drops should not be used for children under the age of 2. They are dangerous and considered a choking hazard at this age.

2

Practice healthy throat habits. Making things easier on the throat lessens the side effects of your child's cold or flu. Take steps to minimize their symptoms.

Offer plenty of fluids. Water, teas, and juices are fine (breast milk for babies as well). Stay away from sodas and citrus drinks that may irritate the throat[3].

Sit in a steamy bathroom for around 20 minutes and put a humidifier in their bedrooms. These methods may clear the nasal passageways, reduce coughing, and make for easier sleep.

3

See a doctor. If your child is finding it difficult to breathe or the cough has lasted longer than 3 weeks, seek a medical professional immediately.

If the child is under 3 months old or the cough is accompanied by fever or other symptoms, this is especially important.

Take note if the cough happens at roughly the same time every year or is caused by something specific--it may be allergies.

Method 4 of 4: Alternate Method: The Honey & Cream Remedy

1

Grab a saucepan. Heat about 200 ml (1 cup) of full cream milk.

Add one flat tablespoon (15 grams) honey and about one good teaspoon (5 grams) of butter or margarine. Stir once initially.

2

Boil ingredients slowly until the butter melts. This forms a yellow layer on the top.

The yellow layer is fine--don't feel the need to stir it up again.

3

Pour the mixture into a cup. Allow to slightly cool before giving to children.

4

Sip slowly! Make sure you drink the yellow part, too.

5

Watch the cough subside. It should stop or lessen significantly within an hour of drinking this mixture.

This coats the throat, numbing it. Note that the cold or flu (the cause of the cough) will not go away.

6

Make sure you keep yourself warm. A cold body is more prone to illness.

And if you have dry coughs, drink lots of water!

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Tips

A cold washcloth over the throat while laying down should keep coughing at bay long enough to fall asleep.

Make a warm mixture of honey, lemon and tea and slowly sip on it.

Try to remain calm. Sometimes just by being calm and keeping warm, you can reduce the cough. Get a warm blanket and lie down somewhere comfortable. Read or watch TV and keep calm––and hopefully distracted.

There are dozens of home remedies out there. Anything from aloe vera to onions to a garlic syrup is said to aid a sore throat. If your cough is just a tickle, experiment with home remedies at your leisure.

Tumeric and milk could help subside coughs.

If you're still young, stay in bed and don't go to school.

Warnings

A cough can be a symptom of something much bigger or more dangerous to your health. If you are experiencing other life-altering side effects, seek professional care immediately.

Video

In addition to the methods explained above, this video gives a few other remedies as well. For example herbal teas, ginger, and taking a hot shower.

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